Fire-extinguishing apparatus



O. R. ERWIN FIRE EXTINGUI SHING APPARATUS June 9, 1925. R 16,094

Original Filed Nov. 12, 1920 INVE NTOR Reissued June 9, 1925. v

U ITE STA rEs PATENT o CEQ ORLANDO R. ERWIN, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, Assmivoa 'r o FoAMn'FrcHnins CORPORATION, OF YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

dated November 28, 1922,

Original No. 1,437,097,

1 for reissue filed November To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ORLANDO R. ERWIN, a

citizen of the United States, and'resident of Milwaukee, WVisconsin, and formerly of Forest Hills, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, and more particularly to appa-' ratus of the type wherein chemical solutions are stored and are adapted to be co-mixed to produce a fire extinguishing foam, and has special reference to the provision of a novel container for storing and mixing.

- I the said solutions.

It has been'found desirable in apparatus of the type referred to, to provide a container which shall be of simple construction. which shall provide for solution containers substantially sealed to eliminate evaporation and substantially splash-proof to facilitate handling of the extinguisher and which shall embody a construction yielding simplicity in both the charging and discharging operations, such construction to be made of the fewest of parts to provide-a relatively inexpensive fire fighting unit.

The principal objects of the present in vention therefore involve, in addition to the provision of the container having these characteristics, the provision of a portable container adapted to be. operated by inverting the container, the said container being sub-divided into distinct solution and mixing chambers, involving simplicity of parts in construction; the provision of such a container permitting an eflicient flow by gravity of the' solutions into the mixing Serial in. 423,510, filed November 12, 1920.

25, 1924. Serial No. 752,271.

Figure 1 is an elevational view in cross section of my container,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of line 29,, Figure 1, v v v v Figure 3, is a cross sectional View of line 3-3, Figure 1, and

Figure 4 1s a cross sectional view of linev i 44,Figure 1.

, Referring to the drawings, the outersur-, face of the container comprises preferably a cylindrical body 5 having integrally formed therewith cylindrical end. supporting sections 6 and 7 these sections adapted to be supported on any surface, with the apparatus either in erect or inverted posi-v tion, The container is provided preferably with a dished portion 8 forming the bottom thereof, this portion being connected to the interior surface of thebody portion 5 in any suitable manner, as by'brazing at 9. The container is provided with a dome portion 10 comprising the top-of the container, said dome portion beingv also connected to theinterior surface ofthe body portionof thecontainer in any suitable manner, as by brazing at 11, this dome portion being provided with apertures for charging and discharging purposes. Fitted in the discharging aperture is a nozzle 12, connected in any desirable way with the dome, as by brazing the interior surface of the dome.

Means is provided for permitting charging of the container, which consists prefer ably of a thimble 14 having directed flange portion 15, connected to the interior surface of the dome, as by being brazed thereto, saidfthimble being provided also with a threaded neck 16 on which is screwed an internally threaded cap 17 a v gasket 18 being preferably provided between the cap and the thimbletosecure an eflicient closure. i p v It has been found that an eflicient apparatus of this nature should contain, besides the solution chambers, a separate mixing chamber communicating with the solution chambers, so that the effective generated foam may be discharged directly from the mixing chamber without further encountering the solutions in transit. Thecontainer is therefore subdivided into three chambers A licatio an outwardly flange portion 13 of said nozzle to embodimentshown bottom surface comprising two solution chambers and a mixing chamber. The container may be thus subdivided in any desired manner, the preferred way being shown: in the drawings, in which is provided a partition preferably in the form .of a disk 19, connected to the interior surface of the cylindrical portion of the container in any desired manner, as by brazing the periphery ofsaid disk to the container, into an upper'inixing portion 20 and a lower body portion 21, said disk being pro' vided with solution outlets 22 and 23, these outlets comprising interconnecting means between the mixing chamber 20 and solution chambers in the body portion. The body portion of the container may be subdivided in any desired manner into the two necessary solution chambers, the preferred in the drawings consisting of an open-ended compartment 22, adapted to contain the "A or acid solution, being fittedto the disk 19 in any suitable manner,"as by brazing an internally directed flange portion of the. compartment to the of said disk as at 23, this compartment dividingthe body portion into the A or acid chamber and the B or base chamber In order to provide for an (efficient flow, 'i. e uniform, non-gurgling flow in the right proportions of'the solutlons from the solution chambers 21 and 22 into the mixing chamber 20, means is provided for promptly equalizing the pressure of the generated fo am on the solutions in the said chamber, said means consisting the then top of the preferably preferably of equalizing pressure pipes 24 and 25 of considerable cross-section, pro viding free communication between the mixing chamber and the said solution chambers. The equalizing pressure pipes 24 and 25 are preferably conn'ectedas shown in the drawings to the disk 19 in any desirable manner, as by soldering or brazing, these equalizing pressure pipes in the preferred form extending to the bottom of therespective solution chambers so that'upon inversion of the apparatus the foam generated in the mixing chamber will expand and move up the full length of the pipes into solution chambers and an equalizing pressure on the top surface of said solutions to counteract the pressure of the foam in the mixing chamber on the "solutions entering through the solution outlets. v

v Means is provided preferably for "supporting the equalizing pressure pipe 25, which consists in a supporting bracket 26 fixed to the interior surface of the container 5 near its bottom, said pipe being also connected as by brazing to the bottom portion of compartment 22, as shown at 27. p

The solution containers 21 and 22 0011- provide immediately this dividing the container I structed in this manner are substantially sealed against evaporation of the solutions and against splashing in handling of the container.- To further provide a splashproof effect, solution outlet 23 and equalizing pressure pipe 25 communicating with acid chamber 22 are preferablymade to extend upwardly into the mixing chamber as shown'in the drawings.

In operation, in charging the device, 17 is removed and the acid and basic solutions are poured into their respective compartments 22 and 21 through the equalizing pressure pipes 24; and 25, the air trapped in the said compartments having passage through the solution outlets 22 and 28. After charging, the cap is screwed on the thimble, and the container is then stored with the contents effectively sealed against evaporation, the solution compartments being substantially closed. The apparatus maybe easily handled and transported from place to place without liability of splashing or of accidental interinixture of the solutions, due to the compartments being sub stantially sealed.

In the event of fire emergencies, the ap paratusis'inverted with the cylindrical end portion 6 resting on the supporting surface, the solutions flowing freely through the outlets 22 and 23 at the rates predetermined by their relative diameters, and upon admixture in chamber 20' generate a foam, part of'which moves up in the equalizing pressure pipes, filling the now upper portions of the solution compartments andiequalizing the pressure of'the generated foam on the solutions at the outlets of the compartments. withthe foam under pressure, which foam is now free without further mixing with the solutions to discharge from the nozzle 12 on to the fire to be extinguished.

The mixture takesplace gradually dueto the regulated flow through the solution outlets, this preventing pressure strains in the container and this also resulting in a thorough mixture of the two solutions.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the mixing chamber is constituted of one end portion of the main container, being of the full diameter thereof which arrangement provides first, a large space and the necessary time period for the proper mixing of the solutions and development of foam by the chemical reaction, it having been found that a chamber of considerable capacity is practically essential to prevent the discharge of unmixed solutions in liquid form, and second, thisarrangement provides an area for the partition plate 19 which is adequate to accommodate pressureequalizing pipes of large cross sectional area, large enough for readily passing the pressure medium, constituted of the sticky cap foam, from the mixing chamber into the opposite-ends of the solution chambers to obtain quickly the desired balance of preschamber.

" and delivery of foam of constant character as to its condition of alkalinity or acidity, because thesolution outlets (22 and 23) can be relatively proportioned so thatth'e foam is neutral or slightly alkaline and therefore harmless to clothing, housefurnishing's, etc.-

a and thiscondition is maintained throughout the whole discharge.

While I have shown my device in the preferred form,

departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the'following claims.

I claim:

ed by inverting the apparatus for the comixing of chemical solutions to produce a fire extinguishing foam, including an in-f tegral container dividedinto a pluralityof subdividing the shell into a top and bottom portion,

. tom portion of the 40 prising an outer chambers comprising solution chambers,

each provided witha solution outletand an equalizing pressure inlet, and a mixing chamber communicating with the'inlets and outlets of the said solution chambers.

2. A fire extinguishing apparatus comtached interiorlyto said shell, the said plate a receptacle hung from the said plate, the said receptacle separating the botshell into two solution chambers, the upper portion of the shell defining a mixing chamber, orifices in said plate defining solution outlets for the said solution chambers and equalizing pressure inlets in said plate for both solution chambers.

3. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising a container subdivided into a plurality of chambers including solution chambers each provided with a solution outlet and an equalizing pressure inlet and a mixing chamber communicating with the inlets and outlets of the solution chambers, said mixing chamber being provided with charging and discharging openings, and a closure for the charging opening.

4. A fire extinguishing apparatus comprising an outer shell, a disk or plate attached interiorly to said shell, the said plate subdividing the shell into a top and bottom portion, a receptacle hung from the said plate, the said receptacle separating the bottom portion of theshell into two solution chambers, the upper portion of theshell defining a mixing chamber, orifices in said plate defining solution outlets for the said and hence uniformly proportion-' it willbe obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without shell, a disk or plate at tions will flow" by gravityinto the mixing chamber, there to generate fire extinguishing foam.

6. In a fire'extinguishing apparatus, acontainer subdivided into a plurality of chambers comprising solution chambers formed I in -the body of the container and having 1. A fire extinguishing apparatus adapt 7. In a fire extinguishing apparatus adapted to be rendered active by inversion of the apparatus, an'integral container com prising solution chambers formed in I the body thereofand having solution outlets and a mixing chamberformed in the top thereof communicating with said outlets, and equalizing pressure means. connecting the mixing chamber with said solution chambers.

8. In a fire extinguishing apparatus adapted to be rendered active by the inversion of the apparatus, an integral container comprising solution chambers formed in the body thereof and having solution outlets and a mixing chamber formed in the top thereof communicating with said outlets, and equalizing pressure means connecting the mixing chamber with the bottoms of said solution chambers.

9. In a fire extinguishing apparatus adapted to be rendered active by the inversion of the apparatus, 'an integral container comprising solution chambers formed in the body thereof and having solution outlets and a mixing chamber formed in the top thereof communicating with said outlets, and equalizing pressure means connecting the mixing chamber with the bottoms of said solution chambers, said means extending into the mixing chamber.

10. An invertible, foam-type extinguisher comprising outer and inner receptacles respectively containing the foam-making solutions, and a mixing chamber formed in one end of said outer receptacle and of substantially the full diameter thereof, pres-- sure balancing means for establishing uniform or non-gurgling solutionflow'into said mixing chamber at predetermined relative rates, and a foam discharge nozzle for said mixing chamber. e

V 11. An invertible, foam-type extinguisher comprising outer and inner receptacles respectively containing foam-making solutions, a mixing chamber formed in one end of said outer receptacle and of substantially the full diameter thereof, saidmixing chamber, having an opening in the wall, thereof and a removable cap applied to said open ing,pressure balancing means for establishing uniform or non-gurgling flow of said solutions at predetermined relative rates from each receptacle into said mixing chambe r, and a. foam discharge outlet for said mixing chamber. I

12. An invertible foam-type extinguisher comprising a main container having a charg-.

ing opening and cap to close the same, and a transverse partition fixed to said container intermediate .7 the ends thereof and spaced from said opening and cap and forming a' foam-development chamber, two chambers in said'main container respectively holding the foam-forming solutions, each having a solution outlet into said foamdevelopment chamber, pressure balancing means adapted to produce smooth or nongurgling solution fiow into said foam-development chamber, and a foam discharge,

outlet for said chamber. v

13. An invertible foam-type extinguisher comprising a main container having an opening and:'cap,-and a'transverse partition forming a foam-development chamber of substantially the full diameter of said main container, twoother chambers. in said main container respectively holding the two foamforming solutions, both having solution outlets opening into said foam-development chamber at one side of the center thereof, pressure balancing means adapted to produce smooth or non-gurgling solution flow into the foam-development chamber, and a foam discharge outlet for said latte-r chamber, opening-therefrom on the side thereof which is opposite said solutionoutlets.

14. An invertible, foam-type extinguisher comprising a main container having a mixing and foam-development chamber provided with an opening and cap and with a foam outlet independent of said cap and having 'tWo other-chambers, respectively holding the foam-forming solutions, each of the latter chambers having a solution outlet into saidvmixing chamber, pressure balancing means adapted to produce smooth or non gurgling flow of said solutions through said outlets, saidmeans including foam-conducting pipes extending from, the

mixing chamber into the solution chambers,

both said pipes forming free foam-conducting-passages adapted and operating to permit the outflow from said solution chambers to takeplace proportionally to the sizes of'their respective solution outlets.

-;Signed at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin this 19th day of November, A. D. 1924.

l, ORLANDO R. ERWIN. 

